Stockport

Health improved substantially in Stockport in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population decreased

Between the last two censuses, the population of Stockport fell by 0.4%, from just under 285,000 to 283,000.

The loss of about 1,000 people means this area's population decreased by 0.4% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Stockport was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stockport

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stockport increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the North West and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 10,000.

About 11% of people in Stockport are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Stockport saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Stockport had a single parent, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 38% to 34%.

Across the region, only Hyndburn saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 10% to 13%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stockport decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stockport, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Stockport

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Stockport.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Stockport that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 210,000 in 2001 to about 180,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 20,000 to just under 19,000 (from 7.1% to 6.5%).

About 9,400 people (1.8%) said they were Muslim, up from about 5,000 in 2001 (3.3%).

The population without a religion in Stockport increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stockport

The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.6% to 7.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Stockport

In 2011, 92% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 96% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Stockport.

The percentage decreased at a similar rate to the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Stockport from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 7,300 in 2001 to about 14,000 in 2011 (from 2.6% to 4.9%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 3,000 to just over 5,100 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

About 2,000 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 1,200 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Stockport decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Stockport, but at a slower rate than in Manchester (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Stockport).

In Stockport, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.5% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Manchester increased from 16% to 28%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Stockport remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 73%.

Private renting in Stockport increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stockport, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stockport working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 8.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Stockport decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stockport, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Stockport residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that were self-employed increased from 8.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Stockport increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Stockport, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased in Stockport, while falling in nearby Manchester.

In Stockport, the proportion went up from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011, while across England it fell from 12% to 10%. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of married people in Stockport fell from 53% to 48%, while the proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Stockport residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Stockport remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Stockport without children remained close to 60% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Stockport with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 59% in 2001 to 61% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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